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May Day Protesters Are Being Met By Riot Police In Paris; Violence Broke Out In Caracas On Tuesday; AG Barr Will Be Facing Tough Questions On Capitol Hill Today. Aired: 8-9a ET

Aired May 01, 2019 - 08:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News.

ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, I'm in Anna Coren in Hong Kong. Welcome to NEWS STREAM. We begin with breaking news out of

Paris, where May Day protesters are being met by riot police. We've already seen teargas deployed in the crowd and the CNN producer there says

at least one protestor was injured and had to be helped away. More than 7,000 police and security workers are being deployed across the city.

Well, let's bring in our Ben Wedeman who is there on the ground in Paris. Ben describe the scene for us.

We're experiencing some delay, but as you can see --

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, right now there are rocks being thrown and other pieces of objects at the police here.

We're in Montparnasse, the parade, the May Day parade marking International Workers' Day has just actually began in half an hour. But already we've

seen that teargas being fired.

We've seen protesters injured as well. And so already, it's a bit of pandemonium. Now, we know that the Paris police have prepared for much

larger numbers today. They've deployed 7,400 policemen and Security Forces for this May Day compared to last year, was 1,500. And it is expected that

during this demonstration or this protest, which happens every year that there will also be representation from trade unions, the gilet jaune, the

yellow vest, as well as what is known as the black bloc, anarchists and others who are radical militants when it comes to capitalism.

So this day is only just beginning as far as May Day protests go, but they're already off to a very hot start -- Anna.

COREN: Yes, certainly, Ben you are in the thick of it. We will be checking in with you throughout the show. Ben Wedeman there live on the

streets of Paris. Thank you. Well, Venezuela is bracing for its May Day protest, opposition leader, Juan Guaido is promising the largest march in

the country's history.

Well, violence broke out in the capital Tuesday after Guaido called on his supporters and the military to rise up against President Nicolas Maduro.

Dozens of people were injured in street clashes. It's the opposition's boldest attempt yet to unseat Venezuela's embattled leader.

In a televised speech on Tuesday night, Guaido denied the government's claim that the uprising is a coup.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUAN GUAIDO, VENEZUELAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT (through translator): We will be out on the streets. We will see you out on the streets on our

territory. This is not a coup in Venezuela, but rather a peaceful transition.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COREN: Well, Mr. Maduro also addressed the nation saying the coup attempt against him failed. The U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tells CNN, Mr.

Maduro was on the verge of leaving Venezuela a claim that he denies.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICOLAS MADURO, VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Mike Pompeo said this afternoon, "Maduro had a plane that he was taking to Cuba, but

the Russians prevented him from leaving the country." Mr. Pompeo, please. This really is a joke.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COREN: Well, journalist, Stefano Pozzebon is on the ground in Caracas. Stefano, both Guaido and Maduro have called for their supporters to take to

the streets today, obviously, setting the scene for more violent clashes. What have you been seeing so far today?

STEFANO POZZEBON, JOURNALIST: So far, Anna, we are yet to see any real action because let's remember, Caracas is only a right now waking up. And

today, International Workers' Day has long been a national holiday in Venezuela. And as you said, yes, definitely crucial hours ahead, a crucial

day ahead here in Caracas. We have seen people taking on to the street and marching to demand the resignation of Nicolas Maduro many, many times

before; many, many times these very same year.

[08:05:16] POZZEBON: What we hadn't seen so far is where the image is that we witnessed yesterday with a semi-armored vehicle that went through the

crowd of protesters and with active gun fight between military men on both sides of the struggle, both with Guaido and still loyal to Nicolas Maduro.

The situation here in Caracas has all the ingredients to explode any anytime soon. Right now, Caracas is intense cold as 30 million of

Venezuelans and many other observers from all over the world are trying to understand what comes next after the attempt yesterday, the dramatic

attempt to topple Nicolas Maduro didn't quite pay out for the opposition. But yes, a very crucial day ahead indeed here -- Anna.

COREN: Yes, a crucial day that you will be monitoring very closely. Stefano, out we'll check in with you a bit later. Many thanks. Well, Eric

Farnsworth is the Vice President of the Americas Society and Council of the Americas. He joins us now from Washington. Great to have you with us.

Yesterday was seen as a tipping points. With obviously certain military supporting Guaido a bit. Let me ask you this, did he over estimate just

how much military support he actually has?

ERIC FARNSWORTH, VICE PRESIDENT, AMERICAS SOCIETY AND COUNCIL OF THE AMERICAS: Hi, Anna. It's good to be with you. You know, there's that

possibility. But I would caution to say that it's not over yet. Certainly yesterday, the majority of the military stayed loyal to the Maduro regime.

But it's also interesting that the military has not yet arrested Guaido or many of his people around him. And that's important because it seems

there's a little bit of ambivalence.

They're trying to keep the door open for a possible shift of loyalty. And we'll see how that transpires today. I do think there are going to be

massive street protests on both sides, frankly. The potential for violence is high, unfortunately. We'll see what that does in terms of trying to

convince the military to change its allegiance.

COREN: Why does the military at this stage still support Nicolas Maduro?

FARNSWORTH: It's a really good question. At the top levels, they've been bought into the regime by corruption, by favorable exchange rates, by

access to the resources of the state, primarily oil and gold. They've also been allowed to engage in drug trafficking. I mean, this is a criminal

regime and they've bought the military into supporting them by allowing them to do these things.

But that is more at the top levels. I think in the mid-levels and at the bottom levels, they are more afraid of the regime. They don't have a

particular loyalty to Maduro. But at the same time, they're afraid of what might happen to them and their families if they break actively.

Having said that, they still have to live on the local economy, they still have to find food, they still have to find medicine, it's getting

increasingly difficult. So I do think you're going to see some additional activity from the lower ranks of the military, if not today, then in the

future.

COREN: So Eric, what is it going to take for those mid-range, low-range military members to make the shift? Because we are seeing those cracks?

We know that the Chief of Police Intelligence, he has been replaced. He has pledged his support to Guaido and he is now in hiding? Do you think

that others will follow his lead?

FARNSWORTH: Well, I think some will, the question is, will a critical mass follow his lead? Will enough follow his lead to change the dynamic on the

ground? I think ultimately, what has to happen is that people have to have in their mind, the idea that Guaido will be successful and that he will end

up on top.

And if so, then if they change their loyalty, they'll be protected. They'll be able to be part of the new democratic government going forward.

If they believe that Guaido is not going to be successful, and indeed, they are motivated by fear of the current regime, then they're probably going to

remain where they are.

Because at the end of the day, they have to look out for themselves and for their families. All of these folks have to make individual decisions, and

they are very, very difficult to make. So we're dealing with human beings here. We're dealing with uncertainty -- massive uncertainty. We're

dealing with the potential for violence. And so that's why it's such a complicated and drawn out process.

COREN: Eric Farnsworth, great to get your analysis. Many thanks for joining us.

FARNSWORTH: Thank you for having me.

COREN: Just ahead on NEWS STREAM. U.S. Democrats have wanted to question Attorney General William Barr ever since he released a redacted version of

the Mueller report. Now, they will get that chance. We have a preview.

And WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange is sentenced to jail in the U.K. for breaching bail back in 2012 a day before he faces a separate U.S.

extradition hearing.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:12:14] COREN: Welcome back. We are looking at live pictures of those May Day protests in Paris, and that is where we find out Ben Wedeman who is

there in the thick of it on the ground. Ben, talk to us. What's going on?

WEDEMAN: Well, we continue to see these protesters are bashing with the French police. They're using a lot of teargas today. Now, what we see now

is -- this march is supposed to go from Montparnasse to Place d'Italie, which is about a 40-minute walk from here and they're supposed to proceed

forward.

Now finally, we're seeing some of the marchers are beginning to move forward because it's important to keep in mind that apart from the teargas

and the rocks been thrown, that this is an important occasion. This is International Workers' Day and certainly, France is an example of where

strong workers movements have actually achieved significant Workers Rights, for instance, here in France, there's only a 35-hour work week and about 16

weeks of maternity leave.

You even get a week off if married, on top of that, you don't have to answer your e-mails outside of working hours. And this is the result of

this sort of street action we've seen every year in Paris on the first of May going back to 1884 when the first workers -- International Workers Day

occurred. So certainly, this is an old tradition.

And now even though I do see some teargas wafting down the street from me, it does appear that the march is proceeding relatively peacefully at this

particular moment -- Anna.

COREN: Yes, Ben, we're looking at pictures of obviously people throwing canisters of teargas back at police. We are also seeing those security

personnel, some of them attacking protesters, but they are retreating. So you're absolutely right. These protesters are moving forward with their

march. We know the government doesn't want to repeat the violence and destruction that occurred in the May Day protest last year. Tell us about

that the heavy security in place.

WEDEMAN: Well, there's a 7,400 police and Security Forces on the streets of Paris today compared to 1,500 last year for the first of May. But

what's happened in the preceding year, of course, is that starting in November, you've had for 23 Saturdays in a row, you have had protests with

the gilet jaune, the yellow vest, and that has certainly changed the landscape here in terms of the challenge being posed to the Security Forces

from these weekly protests.

[08:15:15] WEDEMAN: And therefore, they were expected as a result of the strength of the gilet jaune in addition to the traditional nature of this

day, they were expecting -- they are expecting a much bigger turnout than we saw last year -- Anna.

COREN: Yes, Ben, we're seeing very dramatic pictures. Tell us that loud boom that we are constantly hearing. Are they teargas canisters? What is

that?

WEDEMAN: Yes, that is teargas, and there's a lot of it being fired. In fact, now we're walking in the direction of where maybe through the camera,

you can see a fair amount of teargas smoke rising above the crowd. And this is just sort of how it often goes, not necessarily on May Day, but

certainly, almost every Saturday here in Paris, this is what you see -- a lot of tear gas being fired and people are injured.

There are people who have lost their eyes because of these teargas canisters and rubber bullets being fired at protesters. So it's not a game

-- Anna.

COREN: And Ben, obviously, we're seeing people, they are fully masked, they are prepared. I mean, these protesters, are they settling in, they

prepared to be there for the duration of the day and cause as much chaos as possible?

WEDEMAN: I mean, it's important to stress that this is a traditional march of workers, unions, labor unions and whatnot. There is a contingent that

is obviously hardcore radicals who are sort of determined to cause trouble, to break windows, to vandalize. But the vast majority of people here are

taking part in this march, because they believe in Workers' Rights.

The problem, of course, is that because it's such a broad group of people that out of, you know, the tens of thousands of people participating, we

heard the French Interior Minister yesterday, saying that he believes that in today's marches, they believe between 1,000 and 2,000 radicals or

extremists are going to be taking part.

But normally, this would just be a march, not necessarily a violent one. And I venture to say that the vast majority of people who are turning out

today are not here to break anything, to be a "casser" or a smasher, as they're called in French.

COREN: Of course, as you say, the vast majority are there to participate in a protest that has been going on for generations. But at the end of the

day, we know that there are thousands of people there whose sole intention is just to cause trouble. And obviously security forces are looking out

for them. Do you think that security has a real handle on the situation? And you know, potentially how this this could explode today?

WEDEMAN: Well, certainly when you consider that there are five times as many police and security on the street today in Paris than there were a

year ago, they are certainly prepared and ready. There's a new rule which allows the police to stop and search people on their way to marches and if

for any reason they believe their intentions are not good, they can be detained.

Already, 165 people have been brought in for questioning. And as I said, as a result of 23 consecutive Saturdays of the gilet jaune, the yellow vest

protests, the police certainly are very well experienced. And from the looks of it, they're very well prepared for trouble if trouble happens and

I think it probably will -- Anna.

COREN: Hey, Ben, let's talk about those yellow vest protests as we can see them spotted throughout the crown. Remind us what it is that they actually

want. What is it they want from the government?

WEDEMAN: This is a movement that began last November and their main protest, their main problem with the government at the time was the

introduction of a gasoline tax. But shortly afterwards, President Emmanuel Macron eliminated that gasoline tax, but their problems with the government

are much bigger than that.

There's a feeling that the elite is out of touch now. President Macron in January started what he called a great national debate.

[08:20:09] WEDEMAN: He spent hours and hours, 92 hours according to one article I read, speaking to people about what is wrong with France and how

it can be fixed. On the 25th of April, he came out with a series of proposals to try to address the grievances of the yellow vest movement.

Some of them perhaps may be satisfied. He, for instance, said that the Christmas bonuses that are normally taxed but weren't taxed this Christmas,

would not be taxed the coming year. He promised that as long as he is President, no schools or hospitals will be closed.

And in general, he promised to be more responsive to the concerns of ordinary French people. And what we've seen is that certainly, the number

of people participating in the weekly protests has dramatically reduced. Last November, at its peak, there are 280,000 people participating in these

protests nationwide, the gilet jaune, the yellow vest protests.

Last weekend, it was around -- it's just over 20,000. So the numbers have gone down, perhaps, some elements in the yellow vest movement are satisfied

by the measures taken by the government.

But as you can see, there's still many people with yellow vests in the crowd and they do believe that more needs to be done by the French

government to respond to their grievances.

COREN: Ben, we are looking at pictures of an intersection square where there seems to be thousands of protesters packed in. The world's attention

turned to Paris several weeks ago with the fire that engulfed the Notre Dame Cathedral and that tragedy in itself seemed to unify Paris and France

for a moment, for a few days, but it was short lived.

WEDEMAN: Yes, and it is significant that as part of the areas that the police are banning the marchers from going to is the area around Notre

Dame. But even Notre Dame has an angle in this story, Anna, and that is that many people were rather annoyed that a billion euro or rather dollars

were being raised for the -- I am going to have to put my gas mask on.

COREN: Ben Wedeman, we appreciate your reporting. We will be checking back.

WEDEMAN: Can you hear me?

COREN: We will be checking back with you a little later in the show. But as you can see thousands of people, thousands of protesters have taken to

the streets of Paris where teargas has been fired where have seen tons of protesters clashing with police, but it would seem that those protesters

are determined to carry out this march through the streets of Paris.

We are crossing back to that story a bit later in the show. But turning to other news now, U.S. Attorney General William Barr will be facing some

tough questions on Capitol Hill today. He is expected to defend the way that he handled Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian attempts

to influence the 2016 presidential election.

The Senate hearing comes just hours after it was revealed that Mueller was apparently unhappy with Barr's four-page summary of his report. Barr also

faces questions about his decision not to prosecute President Donald Trump on obstruction of justice charges.

Michael Shear is the white house correspondent for "The New York Times" and a CNN political analyst. He joins us now via Skype. Michael, great to

have you with us. Has the Attorney General misled Congress and the American public about Mueller's findings?

MICHAEL SHEAR, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST (via Skype): Well, that's what the Democrats are going to want to press him on. The question really had

already been teed up before this revelation that you talked about a minute ago with the letter from Robert Mueller.

The Democrats had already been concerned that the initial -- the explanation by Barr of what the Mueller report would look like a couple of

weeks before it actually came out really did kind of leave a misimpression among the American public and probably helped Donald Trump kind of set the

stage for when the report would actually come out. That was already going to be the concern before the reports last night about the letter from

Mueller, in which the Special Counsel expressed essentially that exact concern that he was upset with the way that the Attorney General had

characterized his report, rather than simply letting it stand on its own or providing a more neutral assessment.

The Special Counsel said that the Attorney General had taken it out of context, which you can be sure the Democrats will pounce on today in the

hearing.

[08:25:10] COREN: Yes, he no doubt will get a grilling at the hearing. But what is at stake? The Attorney General's job? Is there renewed debate

about impeachment proceedings against the President? Tell us.

SHEAR: I think more the latter than the former. There's no indication that the Attorney General William Barr is at all at risk of losing his job,

in fact, quite the contrary, he is doing exactly what Donald Trump wants him to do, which is to be - to sort of act as Donald Trump's lawyer rather

than the country's top law enforcement person, and so that isn't really a concern.

I mean, I think, you know, for Democrats, the dilemma has been and will continue to just get more intense, which is -- what do you do? Do you

actually pursue impeachment when the great likelihood is it won't go anywhere because you can't convict the President in the Senate, you just

don't have the votes? Or do you hold back and simply try to kind of keep the investigations going without formally opening impeachment proceedings,

which is a sort of delicate dance in any event.

And I think these hearings today with Barr is going to just put more pressure on the Democrats to try to figure out which direction they go in

the days ahead.

COREN: Michael, while the focus is obviously on Barr. Surely, the Special Counsel, Bob Mueller is somewhat responsible for this misinterpretation of

his findings, if he'd been more clear about whether the President had in fact obstructed justice, rather than leaving that to Congress to decide?

SHEAR: Yes, I think that's one of the enduring mysteries of the report is, you know, most people expected that when the Special Counsel was appointed,

his job was ultimately to come to that conclusion, to look through the evidence, to gather the information, and then come to a conclusion about

whether it met the definition of either obstruction on the one the hand or collusion on the other. And so the fact that he didn't come to a

conclusion was puzzling.

I think that what the Democrats will try to focus on though instead of focusing on Mueller, is they'll try to focus on Barr's rather quick

determination that the evidence collected by a Special Counsel didn't amount to obstruction. I mean, he did that in a matter of days. It wasn't

even the kind of thing where the Attorney General can say, "Look, I spent a long time. I had my lawyers examine the evidence thoroughly." That's hard

to say when he came to the conclusion in a matter of a couple of days.

And I think the Democrats will try to press him on what gave him the ability and the right to take Mueller's information and make that quick

determination.

COREN: Michael Shear, we certainly appreciate your analysis. Thanks for joining us.

SHEAR: Sure. Thank you.

COREN: Dozens of people are injured in Venezuela after violent street clashes. Just ahead, why the unrest could be just as fierce in the coming

hours as the opposition tries to oust the President from power.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:30:29] COREN: Welcome back. I am Anna Coren in Hong Kong, you're watching NEWS STREAM. These are the world headlines. In Paris, May Day

protesters are being met by riot police. We have seen teargas deployed several times already in the last hour, and at least one protester was

injured and had to be helped out of the crowd. More than 7,000 police and Security Forces are being deployed across the city.

Well, Japan as a new Emperor. Emperor Naruhito ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne a day after his father Akihito abdicated. The role is largely

symbolic. Speaking as the new Emperor, Naruhito acknowledged his position has an important responsibility and paid tribute to his father's legacy.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been sentenced to almost one year in jail in the U.K. for breaching bail when he took refuge in the city's

Ecuadorian Embassy nearly seven years ago. Assange was arrested there last month. On Thursday, he will face a separate extradition hearing relating

to charges in the United States.

Well, let's bring in Greg Barns, barrister and Australian legal adviser to Julian Assange. He is in Sydney, Australia and joins us now. Greg, good

to have you with us. Before we get to the legalities, I believe that you haven't spoken to Julian since his arrest, but you're in touch with his

parents. Tell us, how is he holding up?

GREG BARNS, AUSTRALIAN LEGAL ADVISER TO JULIAN ASSANGE (via Skype): Well, look, I think he's holding up okay. And I think that he is remarkably

resilient. There is no doubt that this has taken a huge toll on him, the entire process for the last seven or eight years. But he did make the

point to the court this morning that there had been a reason for his actions over the last seven or eight years. He took the best course that

he felt that he could at the time. And he's maintained that position.

But I thought that -- and certainly, what I'm hearing is that he is going well, as well as one can be expected in difficult prison environment.

COREN: Greg, today's sentencing of 50 weeks is minor compared to what he is facing tomorrow. Obviously, he has been charged with conspiracy to

commit computer intrusion and possible extradition to the United States. How likely is it that he will be extradited?

BARNS: Well, it looks that it is completely likely in the sense that there is, I think, some suspicion on the part of the U.K. authorities and there

ought to be that the United States is not being transparent here, in other words that they're seeking to extradite him on this charge and then will

lay further charges in the United States, which would be in breach of the extradition treaty.

The second point I'd make is that, of course, there is precedent in the United Kingdom for people who've been charged with hacking offense, not to

be extradited to the United States. And the third point I make is the United Kingdom court system has a full suite of human rights protections

available to it that it can examine any extradition request. So it's by no means a foregone conclusion.

COREN: Yes, obviously, we know the opposition leader in the U.K., Jeremy Corbyn, he is calling for Assange not to be extradited. But the U.K. and

United States, they are allies. And as you know, as you pointed out, if he is extradited, and once he lands on U.S. soil, he will face other charges,

what else do you think they will throw at him?

BARNS: Well, who would know? But I mean, your guess is as good as mine, Anna, in the sense that they have not been transparent about the grand jury

process. But one can imagine that you spend all that time and money and effort to extradite a person for a charge which carries a maximum penalty

that is less than the maximum penalty for theft, for example, to about half the maximum penalty for theft.

So one assumes that the United States will look at further charges, potentially around the espionage area or the conspiracy area, and that's

the danger and of course, that would be a subterfuge on the British courts, because it's purporting to say that the British courts, we want to

extradite him on this matter. And then getting back to the United States and charging with further offenses.

COREN: Greg, what legal avenues are available to Julian Assange, if he loses in the extradition court?

BARNS: He will appeal and that appeal can go all the way to the U.K. Supreme Court, which is sort of equivalent to the U.S. Supreme Court and

then a possible European court action as well, so this is a long journey, this extradition request.

[08:35:10] COREN: And Greg, just quickly, Sweden and the rape charges there. Could he face a second extradition request?

BARNS: Well, they weren't charges, there was an investigation into allegations of sexual assault. But the important point to note there,

Anna, is that the Swedish authorities did investigate, interviewed him eventually in London and closed their books. It would be extraordinary if

they reopened them and one could only imagine them that they were doing so on the basis of political pressure from United States.

COREN: Greg Barns joining us from Sydney. Great to have you with us. Many thanks. You are watching NEWS STREAM. We'll be back in just a

moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COREN: Welcome back to NEWS STREAM. The world is watching the crisis in Venezuela. Opposition leader, Juan Guaido is vowing to keep up the

pressure to oust President Nicolas Maduro from power.

Earlier, the U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo said during a Fox Business interview that U.S. military action in Venezuela is possible

quote, "if that is what is required."

Moments ago, U.S. National Security adviser, John Bolton spoke with CNN and John Berman asked Bolton about the possibility of U.S. military action.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN BOLTON, U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: As Mike said, we want a peaceful transition of power. The Russians could assist that. The Cubans

could assist it by returning to Cuba. We're going to continue to work on that basis, but we're having effectively a special meeting of National

Security Council principles later today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COREN: Let's bring in Stefano Pozzebon in Caracas. Stefano, you've just heard John Bolton say that military action from United States is not off

the table. What do you make of that?

POZZEBON: Yes, exactly. Well, that's the line that the U.S. administration and the White House has been repeated at least since 2017,

when Donald Trump himself -- President Trump said that he was not taking away that possibility of a military option. A military option in Venezuela

would escalate the situation dramatically to unseen heights, perhaps not only because of how complex the situation in Caracas, in Venezuela is with

a country deeply divided and in the midst of the most dramatic economic crisis of the Western Hemisphere.

But perhaps more and more importantly for the geopolitical repercussions because if the U.S., Australia, the European Union and many other countries

around the world are recognizing Juan Guaido's leadership. On the other hand, countries such as China, Russia, Turkey, Iran and Cuba are all

standing firm and standing by embattled President Nicolas Maduro, saying that he is the man to steer the country away from the economic collapse and

perhaps to defend the economic interests that that all of these country have here invested in Venezuela.

At the end of the day, money talks, and an oil has been flowing through Russia and to China. Gold has been flowing Turkey and those leaders are

happy to see Maduro staying in power.

[08:40:03] POZZEBON: So the geopolitical repercussions of a military option here are huge to say the least -- Anna.

COREN: Stefano, we appreciate your reporting and we'll cross back to you over the coming hours. Many thanks. Let's get Moscow's perspective on all

of this. Frederik Pleitgen joins us now. Fred, obviously, we heard from U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo that Maduro had a plane on the tarmac,

was ready to flee to Havana, that the Russians talked him out of it. Obviously, now we're hearing from both Pompeo and Bolton that U.S. military

intervention is a possibility. What do the Russians make of all of this?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the Russians have been criticizing this process, Anna, very deeply, basically

since this new turmoil has started a couple of days ago and especially if you speak about the comments that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made to

our own Wolf Blitzer last night about a plane already being on the tarmac.

The spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, she actually texted me shortly after that, and basically called that out as what she

called fake news. She was saying that Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo and the U.S. in general was in a campaign to demoralize the Venezuelan military

and was even using fakes as she called it.

She obviously refers to fake news or fake information as part of what she called an information war by the administration against the Maduro

government. It's quite interesting because in general, some of the statements that we've been hearing by the National Security adviser, John

Bolton, also of course hearing from Mike Pompeo as well about them saying that Maduro absolutely has to leave power.

The Russians on their part are saying that is something that they don't believe should be the case. They say that that is against international

law, and also against common sense. Those are the words coming from the Foreign Ministry as well.

And a lot of that, quite frankly, goes to what Stefano was saying before. The Russians, of course, have some very deep vested interests in Venezuela.

There's big economic cooperation. There's Russian companies who have invested in the oil sector in Venezuela. There's also big military

cooperation as well, and that military cooperation has been increasing.

The Russians just last year sent some strategic bombers to Venezuela. They talked about strive to do that more often in the future. And the Russians

of course have military specialists on the ground as we speak in Venezuela although Russian say those are definitely not going to get involved in

anything that's unfolding in Venezuela right now -- Anna.

COREN: Fred Pleitgen in Moscow, good to see you. Thank you for that. We are continuing to monitor the breaking news out of Paris. These images of

May Day protests. There are 7,000 riot police and security personnel working to keep control of the demonstrations. There has been teargas

deployed and some injuries reported.

We will continue bringing you the latest on the breaking news out of Paris in the hours ahead.

Well, that is a NEWS STREAM. I'm Anna Coren, thanks so much for your company. Don't go anywhere though, "World Sport" with Alex Thomas is

coming up next.

(SPORTS)

[09:00:00]

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